Sight for ordnance



(No Model.) 3 SheetS'Sheet 2.

E. G. PARKHURST. SIGHT FOR ORDNANGB s: E H

Patented. May 22, 1894.

W1 messes:

O /ZM ZSUQ (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. E. G. PARKHURST. SIGHT FOR ORDNANOB.

No. 520,075. Patented lgfg y 22, 1894.

ms NATIONAL LITHOGHAPNING comnuv wusnmcwu. u. c. I

EDWARD G. PARKHURST, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SIGHT FOR ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 520,075, dated May 22, 1894:.

Application filed January 27, 1894. Serial No.498,215. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, EDWARD G. PARKHURST a citizen of the'United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvements in Sights for Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sights for ordnance, the object of the invention being, primarily, to provide an improved sight-attachment especially adapted for use in connection with breech-loading ordnance of the rapid-fire class; also to so construct said sight-attachment that the parts thereof may be readily assembled without the use of special tools, and may, as a whole, be quickly fixed to or removed from the ordnance-piece whenever desired; also to provide means whereby the sight may be adjusted vertically and horizontally (or laterally) with relation to the barrel of the ordnance, and also to provide improved means whereby the area of the sight-opening may be varied.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a rear end elevation of a portion of an ordinary breech-loading gun provided with a sightattachment embodying my present invention, said figure showing the sight-bar that carries the sight as adj ustably-supported in the sightblock outside of the breech of the gun. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same as seen from the right-hand in Fig. 1, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the sight -block, sightbar, and portion of the breech of the ordnance, taken in dotted line co -a, Fig. 1, looking downward in said figure, the clamping-device-being omitted. Fig.4 is a similar cross-sectional detail of the sightbloek, taken in dotted line b-b, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a portion of the sightblock drawn in projection with Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the sight bar. Fig. 7 isa side elevation of said sight-bar,partially in central vertical section. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the upper endof the sight-block showing the manner of securing the indicatorpoint thereto. Figs. 9 and 10 are front and side views, respectively, of the locking-device for securing the sight-block in the breech of Fig. 17 shows in detail in side and end views,

the two sight slides. Figs. 18 and 19 are top views of the right and left hand sight-slides, respectively. Fig. 20 is an end view of a portion of a breech-loading ordnance with a sightbar applied thereto, in accordance with one form of my'said invention, said figure showing the breech as constituting the holder for the sight-bar, the upper end of said bar and sight- 7 carrier beingshownin section. Fig. 21 isaside elevation of the same, portions being shown in central vertical section. Fig. 22 is a sectional view of a portion of the lower end of the breech and sight-bar with the clampingdevice and button-stop removed. Fig. 23 is an under side view drawn in projection with Fig. 21. Fig. 24 is a detail, in side view, of the button-stop. Figs. 25 and 26 are rear and side elevations, respectively, of a portion of the breech of a gun and sight-block secured thereto, said figures showing the sight-block as held in place upon the breech by screws.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

In the drawings I have shown three modified forms-of holders for the slide-bar of the sight, all of which holders, in connection with the sight-bar, sight and adjusting and holding devices hereinafter described, are comprised within the scope of my present invention. The parts comprising the sight-attachment are herein shown as applied to one form of breech-loading ordnance of the so-called rapid-fire type, only so much of the ordnance being shown as is necessary for illustrating the application of my improvements.

Briefly stated, the sight-attachment, as a whole, comprises, essentially, a sight-block, or holder, B, a slide-bar (or sight-bar) C, a clamping-device by means of which the sightbar may be adjusted and secured in its adjusted positions with relation to the holder, said device being designated in a general way by D, a sight, E, a sight-carrier, F, and means for adjusting the carrier laterally'of the sightbar. In the form thereof shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusivel y, the holder or sight-block B consists of an oblong frame or casing having a T-shaped flange, 2, at its front face adapted for fitting a similar T-shaped groove, or slide- Way, 3, formed in the rear end of the breech of the gun,which breech is designated by A. This groove or slide-way 3 extends from the upper edge of said breech a distance equal to the length of the flange on the sight-block B. This sight-block has a bore, or slide-way, 4, extending through it longitudinally from end to end thereof, which bore is constructed to receive .the slide-bar C which in this instance consists of a tubular body, 5, having at its upper end a head, 6, constructed for receiving a sight-carrier, or slide, F, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Formed longitddinally in the rearward face of the sight block, and extending from the extreme lower end to a point 7' near the upper end thereof, is a slot, 7, which slot communicates with and is in axial alignment with the bore 4: in said sight-block. This slot 7 will be of less width than the diameter of the bore 4 fora purpose hereinafter explained.

As a means for securing the sight-block shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusively, to the breech of the ordnance, the said block has formed transversely through it, near the upper end thereof and at one side, preferably, of the center of the T-flange, a bore, 8, shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, which bore, at one portion thereof, as shown at 9, registers with a lock-notch formed in the side face of the T-slotted portion of the breech, said locknotch being contiguous to and coinciding with said bore 8. Seated in said bore 8 is a short shaft, 10, having a portion of one side thereof adjacent to the lock-notch 9, cut away as shown at 11, to form a locking cam which upon the turning of its shaft in one direction by the actuator or arm, G, at the outer end .thereof, may be thrown into locking engagement with the lock-notch 9, and hold thesightblock against longitudinal displacement upon the breech, and upon a reverse movement of the shaft 10 may be released therefrom to permit the removal of said sight-block together with the connected parts from the breech of the ordnance. The inner end of the shaft 10 will preferably be provided with a laterally projecting stop-arm, 12, adapted u-pon rotation of said shaft to be brought into contact-with a stop, 13, projected into the path of'movement of said stop-arm, to thereby limit the .extent of rotary movement of said shaft, as will beunderstood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 .ofthe drawings. As shown the inner end of the bore 8 will be enlarged, preferably at one side thereof, as shown at 14, to permit the movement of the stop-arm 12. One face of the the path of movement of the stop-arm 12, but

I do not desire to limit myself to this construction, as any means for limiting the movement of the shaft to cause the notched portion 11 thereof to register with the side face of the slide-way 3 may be employed, as, for instance, the stop-arm 12 might be dispensed with and a stop-abutment be provided upon the outer face of the sight-block against which the lock-shaft actuator G might abut.

The sight-bar,in the preferred form thereof herein shown, will be of tubular construction, a plug or block, 16, being inserted and secured in the lower end thereof to provide means for carrying the clamping-device D as will be hereinafter described.

In Figs. 10 to 2]., inclusively, I'have shown the breech of the ordnance as constituting the holder for the sight-bar; in this case thebreech is vertically bored and grooved as shown at 18, and 18', to form a slide-way, and the tubular sight-bar body 5 of the sight-bar is fitted therein. To limit the longitudinal movement of the sight-bar, said bar will preferably be provided at its lower end with a button-stop, 19, whose projecting arm, 19, extends a short distance beyond the outer surface of the sight-bar. To accommodate said arm when the parts are in an assembled or working position, the front I face of the bore 18'has a stop-groove,20,

formed longitudinally therein, which groove extends from the lower end to a point, as 20., near the upper end thereof. The lower end of the sight-bar is cut away on one side thereof, as shown at 21, most clearly in Figs. 20 and 21, to form abutment-faces 22 and 22, to limit the rotary movement of the stop-arm 19'. When assembling the parts the button-stoparm 19' will be turned rearwardly against the face 22 of the sight-bar which brings it in position to pass through the wide slot 18 which permits the sight-bar to be inserted in the bore 18, or when inserted, to be lifted out of said bore or slide-way. When the sight-bar is dropped to its extreme lower position, the

- button-stop may be turned around against the other abutment-face 22 and in alignment with the narrow stop-groove20; this will permit the sight-bar to be raised until said stoparm strikes against the abutment 20' at the' upper end of said stop-groove 20, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figs. 20 to 23, inclusive. This button-stop will, preferably, be secured to the lower end of the sight-bar, or the block 16 therein, by means of a screw, 23, as shown most clearly in Fig. 23, which screw extends through the hub of the button-stop and enters a screw-threaded hole in the bottom of the block orplug 16 in the sight-bar. This screw also serves the purpose of a binding-screw for the bolt 24, of the clamping-device D to prevent accidental rotation thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The clamping-device for holding the sightbar in place vertically consists of a bolt 24, screwed into a hole, 25, in the block 16 and held normally against rotation therein by means of the bindingscrew 23 bearing at its upper end against said bolt; a shoe or slide 26, loosely engaging said bolt, which shoe extends through the wide slot 7 and has flanges 27, bearing upon the sight-block or holder at each side of the slot- 7, and a clamp-nut, 28, fitted to the screw-threaded outwardly-projecting end of the bolt 24. This clamp-nut will preferably have the periphery of its hub grooved to form a circular key-seat as shown at 29 in Fig. 21, and the rear face of the shoe will be grooved to receive said,hub, a key, 30, being extended through the shoe and into the groove 29 of the clamp-nut 28 to secure said nut to the shoe and permit rotation thereof with relation to said shoe. This clamp-device operates to hold the sight-bar backward against the inclined faces, 32, and 32, on either side of the wide slot 7, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

WVhen the sight-bar has been properly ad- -justed longitudinally and it is desired to set 3 the same in its adjusted position, it is simply necessary to give the clamp-nut 28 a partial rotation which will draw the bolt 24 together with the sight-bar backward, tightly clamping said bar between theinclined faces 32 and 32 of the slide-way 4, and securing said sight-bar against any movement backward or forward relatively to the gun; this is of great importance, in that it prevents accidentaldisplacement during the counter-recoil which, as is well-known, is very destructive to sightdevices when the sight-bar has any lateral play. The rearward slot 7 of the slide-way -4 being of considerable width,in practice more than one-half the diameter of said bore or slide-way 4,brings the inner surfaces of the slot 7 and bore 4 at a relatively sharp an gle the one with the other, so as to constitute a species of V into whichthebaris wedged by means of the clamping-device. This manner of securing the bar not only holds the same as hereinbefore described against any forward and backward movements, but serves to rigidly and accurately align the same with relation to the slide-way, notwithstanding the slide-bar may be freely fitted in said slidewa The head 6 of the sight-bar is bored longitudinally or at right angles to the body 5 of said bar, as shown at 85, to form a slide-way to receive and guide the sight-carrier, designated in a general way by F, which is fitted for longitudinal movement in said head, as most clearly shown in Fig. 20. This sightcarrier, in the form thereof herein shown is in the nature of a tube closed at one end as shown at 36, and having a toothed rack, 37, formed upon its lower face, which rack is engaged by the teeth of a pinion, 38,. carried upon a shaft, 39, journaled in the rear wall of the head 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 21. This shaft is provided with a thumb-nut, 40, at its outer end, by means of which the same may be turned to adjust the sight-carrier laterally. This sight-carrier has a slot, 41, formed longitudinally through its upper wall, and is provided,in the preferred form thereof herein shown, with two oppositely-disposed sight-sha-des, 42and 42, respectively, located one at each side of said longitudinal slot 41. These sight-shades will each have a conical opening, 43 and 43, respectively, formed therethrough, whose apexes arecontiguous and in alignment as shown most clearly in Fig. 15.

Located intermediate to the two sightshades 42 and 42 are two sight-slides, designated in a general way by H and H, which sight-slides are constructed to have a movement longitudinally of the sight-carrier, and are adapted to overlap each other to contract the sight-opening as will be hereinafter more fullydesc'ribed. Each sight-slide, in the preferredform thereof herein shown, consists of a body-portion, 44, having at the upper edge thereof a blade, or sight-slide proper, 45, in the inner edge of which is formed a partial sight-opening, 46, which opening 46 as the slides are moved so that the blades partially overlap each other, form together a complete sight-opening which may be contracted more or less as desired according to the adjustment of said slides. These sight-blades extend through the longitudinal slot in the sight-carrier, and the partial sight openings thereof are in horizontal alignment and are adapted to be brought into axial alignment with the opening in the sight-shades 42 and 42.

As a means for securing the desired adjustment of the sight-slides relatively to the sightshades, the body portionof'one of the slides has a right-handed screw-threaded opening, while the body-portion of the other slide has a left-handed screw-threaded opening formed longitudinally therethrough, and an adjusting-screw having right and left handed screwthreaded portions, 47 and 47, respectively, is fitted in the right and left handed screwthreaded openings in the slides H and H, as shown clearly in Fig. 20. This screw is journaled at its outer end in the end-wall of the sight-carrier, and is provided with a thumbnut, 50, by means of which said screw may be turned to move the slides toward and from each other as required, a stopscrew, 51, fitted to the opposite end of the carrier limits the movement of said slides. By removing the stop-screw 51, the slides may be readily drawn out of the tubular sight-carrier F, as will be understood by reference to the drawlugs.

In practice, the sight-bar will have indicating marks formed on the rear face thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, and the sight-block B will be providedwith a pointer, 52, preferably at the upper end thereof as shown in Fig. 1, to designate the extent of longitudinal adjustment of said sight-bar, and the head 6 of said bar will also be provided with indicating marks by which to gage the adjustment of thesight-carrier laterally of the sight-bar.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The herein-described sight-attachment consisting of a holder having a sight-bar-receiving slide-way, open at one side thereof, a sight-bar fitted to slide in said slide-way, a clamping-device secured to the sight-bar and having a shoe extending through and bearing upon the holder at each side the slideway and having a clamping-nut to bring the parts into binding engagement, a sight-carrier secured for lateral adjustment to the upper end of the sight-bar, a sight in connection with said sight-carrier, and means for adjusting said sight-carrier and sight laterally of the sight-bar, substantially as described.

2. In a sight-attachment, in combination, a sight-bar-holder having a vertical sight-barrecei'ving opening, or slide-way, and having a slot in communication therewith-but of less width than the diameter of said slide-way, a sight-bar fitted to slide in said slide-way and having a sight at the upper end thereof, and a clamping device extending through the slotted portion of the holder and engaging the sight-bar whereby said sight-bar may be clamped in its adjusted positions, and whereby said clamp-device is guided in its vertical movements by the side-walls of the slide-way substantially as described.

3. In a sight-attachment, in combination, a sight-bar-holder having a sight-bar-receiving opening or slide-way open at one side thereof, substantially as described, a sight-bar fitted for longitudinal movement in said slideway, a clamping-device in connection with one end of said sight-bar and having abearingupon the holder at'each side of said slideway, a sight carrier connected for lateral movement with the upper end of said sightbar and carrying a sight, means for adjusting said sight-carrier laterally of the sightbar, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the sight-bar with relation to its holder, substantially as described.

4. In a sight-attachment, in combination, a

- sight barholder having the longitudinal and a clamp-nut screwed upon said bolt and described and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a sight-attachment for ordnance, in combination, a sight-bar-holder having a longitudinal slide-way open at one side thereof, a sightebar fitted for longitudial movement in said slide-way, a clamping-device engaging the lower end of the sight-bar and having a bearing-screw intermediate to the walls of the slide-way, a sight-carrier fitted for lateral movement to the upper end of the sight-bar,

and means for moving saidsight-carrier laterally of the sight-bar, sight-slides carried by said sight-carrier, and means for moving said sight-slides toward and from each other, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a sight-attachment, the combination with the sight-bar-holder or sight-block, of a sight-bar fitted for longitudinal movementin said sight-holder, means for clamping said sight-bar in its adjusted position with relation to the holder, a sight-carrier connected to the upper end of said sight-bar and adapted to have a lateral movement with relation to said sight-bar, means for adjusting said sight-carrier laterally of said sight-bar,,sightslides adjustably connected with the sightcarrier and constructed to have an overlapping movement, and means, substantially as described, for moving said sight-slides toward and partially past each other, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the vertically grooved and laterally notched breech-piece, of a sight-bar-carrying holder having a flange movably fitting the groove in the breech, a locking-device consisting of a locking-shaft having a locking-portion adapted for engagement with the lock-notch to lock the holder against movement upon the breech, and an actuating-arm connected with said lockingshaft, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the breech-piece grooved vertically and having a lock-notch formed at one side of said groove, of a sightblock having a flange movably fitting the groove in the breech-piece, a locking-shaft revolubly supported in the breech-block and having a locking portion adapted for being thrown into and out from engagement with the lock-notch of the breech-piece, an actuator for said lock-shaft, and a stop for limiting the movement of said-shaft, substantially as described.

9. In a sight-attachment, the combination with the breech-piece of the gun grooved substantially as described, at its rear face, and having a lock-notch in one face thereof, of a sightblock having a sightbar-receiving slide-way and having a flange adapted to fit the groove of the breech-piece, a locking-device consisting of a locking-shaft extended .bearing against said screw, substantially as through the sight-block and having a portion adapted for engaging in the lock-notch of the breech-piece and having an actuating-arm at the outer end thereof, a sight-bar fitted for longitudinal movement in the sight-block and carrying at 1ts upper end a laterally-adjustable sight-carrier, and ineans for clamping the s ght-bar in its adjusted positions with relation to the sight-block, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a sight-attachment, the combination with the sight-bar fitted for longitudinal movement in a holder, of a sight-carrier adustably-secured to the upper end of said sightbar and having oppositely and remotely-disposed sight-shades with sight-openings therein, sight-slides adjustably secured to said sight-carrier and having sight-blades extended between the sight-shades and adapted to have a movement toward and from each other, and an ad usting-device connected with said sightcarrier and sight-slides and adapted for moving said slides toward and from each other, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a sight-attachment for ordnance, the combination with the vertically-adjustable s1ght-bar supported in a holder, substantially asdescribed, and having a sight-carrier-receiving head, of a tubular sight-carrier open at one end and one side and having a toothed rack at the opposite side thereof, a pinion supported 1n the sight-bar with its teeth in mesl1 w1th the teeth of the rack, means for rotating said pinion to move the sight-carrier laterally of the sight bar, sight-slides sup ported in the sight-carrier and having right and left handed screw threaded openings therethrough and also having sight-blades extended through the carrier with partial sightnotches in horizontal alignment, and a right and left-handed screw in engagement with said sight-slides and adapted to be turned for movlng said sight-slides toward and from each other, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination with the sight-bar of a sight-attachment, of two sight-slides adjustably connected with a carrier at the upper end of said sight-bar, and means for moving said sight-slides toward and from each other, substantially as described.

13. In a sight-attachment, the combination with a vertically-adjustable sight-bar, of two sight-slides having oppositely-disposed sightnotches and adjustably carried in a carrier which is adjustably-securcd to the upper end of the sight-bar, means for moving said carrier laterally of the sight-bar, and means for mov ng the sight-slides longitudinally of said carrler toward and from each other, substantially as described.

14. In a sight-attachment, the combination with the sight-bar supported for longitudinal movement in a holder, of a sight-carrier carried at the upper end of said sight-bar and having means whereby said sight-carrier may be adjusted laterally of the sight-bar, sightslides adjustably supported by said carrier and'having blades projected through said carrier, said blades having notches formed in their adjacent edges, and means, substanthrough, a sight-slide adjustable with relation to the sight-shade and adapted for covering the sight-opening more or less, and means for moving said sight-slide to and from said sightshade, substantially as described.

1 6. The combination with the sight-bar, of a perforated sight-shade laterally adjustable with relation to said sight-bar, and two oppositely-disposed sight-slides adapted for movement with relation to the sight-shade, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

1'7. Thecombination with the sight-bar,of two sight-slides constructed for adjustment laterally of said bar and for movement 'toward and from each other and having sightnotches in adjacent edges thereof, and means for adjusting said sight-slides laterally with relation to the sight-bar and for moving said slides toward and from each other, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

18. The combination with the sight-bar of a sight-attachment, of two remotely-disposed sightshades having sight -openings therethrough in axial alignment one with the other,

of adapted for being brought into axial align-' ment with the sight-openings of the sightshades, and means for moving said sightslides toward and past each other to decrease the efiective sight opening through the shades, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

20, The combination with the sight-bar and the recessed sight-carrier, of two oppositelydisposed sight-slides fitted for movement in the, carrier and having relatively thin sightblades in parallelism but located at one side of each other with sight-notches formed in adjacent edges thereof, and means for moving said sight-blades partially past each other, tocOmplete the sight-opening and increase or decrease its diameter, substantially as described.

21. The combination of the sight-bat having a sight-carrier socket at its upper end, a longitudinally bored and laterally slotted carrier, two sight-slides fitted for longitudinal movement in the bore of the carrier and having sight-blades projected through the lateral slot of said carrier, said blades being located in parallelism butout of alignment one with the other, and each having asight-notch in its inneredge, and means for moving said blades so as to partially overlap each other to bring their sight-notches contiguous, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

22. In a sight-attachment, in combination, the sight-bar having the sight-carrier receiving socket at the upper end thereof, the longitudinally bored slotted sight-carrier supported in said socket, and having oppositelydisposed perforated sight-shades, one at each side the longitudinal slot in said carrier, two

sight-slides fitted for longitudinal movement in the bore of the carrier and having relatively thin sight-blades projected through the slotted carrier intermediate to the sightshades, said blades being notched at adjacent edges and being adapted for movement past each other between the sight-shades to open and close the sight, and means for moving said sight-blades laterally of the sight-shades, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

23. In combination, the sight-bar having the two oppositely and remotely-disposed sight-shades at the upper end thereof with sight-openings therethrough in axial alignment, the two sight-slides having blades intermediate to said sight-shades and adapted for covering the sight-openings therein more or less, and means for simultaneously moving said blades in opposite directions, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

24. The combinationv with the sight-bar having a tubular head open at one side, of a substantially tubular sight-carrier supported for longitudinal movement in said tubular head and having a longitudinal slot contiguous to the open side of said head, a sightshade located at either side of said slot each having a sight-opening, sight-slides supported for movement in the carrier and having notched sight-blades therethrough, and an adjusting screw connected with the sightslides and carrier and adapted for simultaneously moving said bladesin opposite directions so that the blades thereof will close and open the sight-openings of the sight-shades, substantially as described.

25. In a sight for ordnance, in combination, a sight-bar, a tubular sight-carrier open at one side thereof, two sight-slides having notched blades projected beyond the face of the carrier, and means for simultaneously moving the sight-blades toward andfrom each other, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

26. In a sight for ordnance, in combination, a sight-bar, a tubular sight-carrier laterally adjustable with relation to said bar, said carrier being slotted at one side and provided with one or more perforated sight-shades, one or more sight-slides fitted for movement in the carrier and each having a sight-blade adapted for covering the perforation in the sight-shade or shades, and means for movin g said slide or slides laterally of said shade or shades, substantially as described.

EDIVARD G. PARKHURS'F.

\Vitnesses:

A. O. DIEFFENBACH, E, O. HOWE. 

